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Groton board's raw-milk debate spills into July

By Pierre Comtois, Correspondent

Updated:
06/16/2014 10:51:43 PM EDT

GROTON -- Deciding to take a slow approach to the question, members of the Board of Health asked proponents for patience as they delayed a vote on approving the sale of raw milk in town for at least another two weeks.

The vote to postpone a final decision came following a well-attended public hearing held Monday, as board members continued to gather information about safety issues dealing with the consumption of raw milk.

The issue was first raised by local farmer Helen Cahen, who raised goats and wished to sound out the board about its attitude toward the sale of raw milk in Groton.

The consumption of raw milk is a controversial one due to questions about safety with advocates -- including many who attended Monday's hearing -- insisting that it is not harmful.

Raw milk is milk from a cow or goat that has not been treated through the pasteurization process. Pasteurization was first introduced in the United States in the 1890s and because there was no way to discover which cows or goats carried bacteria, to be safe, all milk was ordered pasteurized -- a practice that continues today.

However, a growing interest in natural foods has revived interest in raw milk, which some say includes healthy elements eliminated when it goes through the pasteurization process.

Research however, shows little difference nutritionally between raw and pasteurized milk, officials said.

Although restrictions on milk continue, many states, such as Massachusetts and New Hampshire, do allow the sale of raw milk.

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For that reason, many in attendance Monday found it difficult to understand the board's reluctance to allow its sale in Groton.

"I would like not to have to drive two hours to buy raw milk," said resident Charlene DeVinney who, as did many others, traveled to Goffstown, N.H., to buy the product. "I would like to keep my money in town. Please let us buy raw milk here."

"I think that the thing the Board of Health wants is to just have more control over raw milk," said resident Steve Lane.

Lane said that the state had its own regulations dealing with raw milk and that the town should just leave it at that.

"We have a community here who wants raw milk," said local producer Cynthia Labbe. "I'm asking the board that if the state allows it, let us sell raw milk."

The hearing began with Cahen providing answers to concerns raised by board members at a previous hearing, including those dealing with inspection, record keeping, the number of illnesses caused by raw milk in Massachusetts (none), and the number of dairies in the state providing raw milk (29).

Next, Cahen introduced health expert David Cumbert who had researched the issue of raw milk and wrote a number of books on the subject.

Cumbert opened by dismissing the claim that raw milk was unhealthy by asking why then have people consumed it throughout history? Millions of Americans, he said, consumed it every day without reported harm.

All foods make some people sick, continued Cumbert, noting that 32 persons died from eating cantaloupes yet no one has ever suggested that the sale of cantaloupes be banned. In fact, there were three deaths reported in 2007 from consumption of pasteurized milk.

"There's a lot of fear mongering about raw milk," concluded Cumbert. "When you look at the macro data, it's not as scary as you think."

Resident Jean Nordin told board members that she has raised her three children on raw milk with no negative side-effects.

"Having it in Groton, having it nearby, is imperative in moving forward," said Nordin adding that she was not necessarily asking the board to condone raw milk but to at least allow it by state regulation.

Chiropractor Robert Jackson also testified to the healthiness of raw milk which his family consumed on a regular basis.

"It's a healthy food in my opinion," said Jackson.

Resident Michael Higgins said consumption of raw milk was only part of a movement where people were becoming more aware of their food choices.

Acknowledging the information given so far and the anecdotal evidence provided by those who attended Monday's meeting, members of the board still expressed doubts about the data regarding the safety of raw milk with Chairman Jason Weber expressing support for freedom of choice.

"But it's more tricky when adults are making the choice for minors," Weber qualified.

"I don't believe in the nanny state as well," agreed fellow board member Susan Horowitz, before noting a number of federal agencies that have determined raw milk to be dangerous.

With suggestions of requiring warning labels and limited licensees, the board voted to continue the hearing until July 7 when more hard data is expected from Cumbert on the safe usage of raw milk as opposed to anecdotal.

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